Download Vitamin_E_121809 - The Bronx High School of Science

Fat-soluble organic
compound found
principally in certain
plant oils and leaves of
green vegetables
Consists of eight
chemical forms but
only alpha-tocopherol
meets human
requirement
Functions in the Body
• Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and anti-carcinogen as well as
anti-aging supplement.
• Due to its antioxidant capabilities Vitamin E protects our body
from:
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carbon, lead, mercury, tetrachloride, the ozone, nitrous oxide and other
carcinogens.
Helps skin and scar tissue heal.
Prevention of cancer.
Assists in the maintenance of vitamins A and C in the body.
Enhances antibody formation and benefits people suffering from a
cold or other viruses.
• Essential for cardiovascular health and for sex organ functioning.
• Maintains the integrity of cell membranes.
• Generally seen in:
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premature infants
individuals with genetic abnormalities
those who cannot digest fat
• Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms in Infants
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Loss of weight and delayed growth
Poor feeding habits
Developmental problems that includes physical and
mental problems
Retrolental fibroplasia:
 Eye disease thought to be caused by disorganized
growth of retinal blood vessels
 result in scarring and retinal detachment.
 May lead to blindness in serious cases.
• Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms in Children
o Spinocerebellar ataxia with loss of deep tendon reflexes
o Truncal and limb ataxia
o Loss of vibration and position senses
o Ophthalmoplegia
 Paralysis or weakness of one or more of the muscles that
control eye movement
o Muscle weakness
o Ptosis
 abnormally low position (drooping) of the upper eyelid.
o Dysarthria
 difficulty in articulation of words due to neurologic
disturbances of function of orofacial muscles, tongue, lips, and
throat.
o Slow growth in children
• Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms in Adults
Mild hemolytic anemia
 Abnormal breakdown of RBC’s
o Nonspecific neurological deficits
o Disorders related to reproduction and infertility
o Fragile red blood cells
o Age spots
o Cataracts
 clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye
or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to
complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light.
o Certain Neurological damage
o Decrease in sex drive
o Muscle, liver, bone marrow and brain function
abnormalities.
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• Take relatively large amounts for months
to years without any apparent harm.
• Occasionally, muscle weakness, fatigue,
nausea, diarrhea and bleeding.
• May increase the risk of hemorrhagic
stroke and premature death.
o accumulation of blood anywhere within
the skull vault.
• Particularly high levels of vitamin E can be
found in the following foods
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Asparagus
Avocado
Egg
Milk
Nuts (almonds or hazelnuts)
Seeds
Green Leafy Vegetables (spinach)
Wholegrain foods
Vegetable Oil
• One quarter of whites and
Hispanics, nearly one-half of
African-Americans, and onethird of other ethnic groups
have Vitamin E levels which
place them at greater risk of
cardiovascular disease.
• Three national and the
Continuing Survey of Food
Intakes by Individuals have
found that the diets of most
Americans provide less than
the RDA levels of vitamin E.
• Because the digestive tract
requires fat to absorb vitamin
E, people with fatmalabsorption disorders are
more likely to become
The following populations may be at risk for vitamin E
deficiency
• People with Crohn’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis,
Celiac Disease , pancreatic enzyme deficiency, and
liver disease.
• Very low birth weight infants—These infants are
usually under the care of a neonatologist, who will
evaluate and treat the premature infant's exact
nutrition needs.
• People who suffer from abetalipoproteinemia—This
is a rare inherited disorder of fat metabolism that
results in poor absorption of dietary fat and vitamin
E.
• Patients on Dialysis ,chronic parenteral nutrition
and patients after Gastric Bypass surgery
• http://ods.od.nih.gov/FACTSHEETS/VITAMINE.A
SP
• http://www.mbmc.org/healthgate/GetHGContent.
aspx?token=9c315661-83b7-472d-a7abbc8582171f86&chunkiid=14070
• http://dietarysupplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine.asp
• http://www.the-vitamin-and-supplementguide.com/evitaminfunctions.html
• http://ods.od.nih.gov/FACTSHEETS/VITAMINE.A
SP
• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/vitamin-edeficiency-symptoms.html